Sill was born on November 23, 1831[2] in Black Rock, a small neighborhood near Buffalo, New York to parents of English descent whose ancestors arrived in 1637.

[5] Sill served as Detroit superintendent until becoming president of Michigan State Normal College, a position he was elected to on July 22, 1886.

[7][8] Sill served as United States Consul General (ambassador) to Korea from 1894 to 1897, during a time that has been described as one of the most turbulent periods of Korean history.

[3] During his tenure as Consul General, Korea went through the Sino-Japanese War, the Gabo Reform, the murder of Empress Myeongseong, and Emperor Gojong's refuge in the Russian legation.

[11][12] Empress Myeongseong's assassination had a profound impact on Sill, who later told stories of her attempt to escape and untimely death.

[3] Upon leaving the U.S. with her husband, Sally fell into a state of depression and suffered from asthma and rheumatism while in Korea, which prevented her from meeting Emperor Gojong and Empress Myeongseong upon their arrival.

Joseph, who was a teenager at the time, joined his parents in Korea while Alice, who was married, stayed in the U.S. Sally died in Detroit, Michigan in 1903 at the age of 69 from Bright's disease.